I’m so pleased to have witnessed this historic signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro at tha Malacañan Palace on October 15,2012. As a stakeholder, I hope that this will put an end to the decades-old of conflict and will pave way to the return of thousands of internally displaced persons or bakwit across Mindanao.
Jorge Madlos says logging is already a “sunset industry” and the mining industry is now taking its place in destroying the island’s environment.
Large-scale mining now Mindanao’s ‘environment destroyer’
SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN MINDANAO (MindaNews/ 27 July)– The threat to Mindanao’s environment is no longer illegal logging but large-scale mining operations, National Democratic Front-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge Madlos said. [ Read Story]
The habalhabal is a motorcycle with wooden extension behind its body to serve as extra seats, with or without a roof to protect the passengers from sun and rain. Along with its big brother the “Skylab,” which has extensions protruding sideways that make it appear like its namesake, the habalbal is ubiquitous here in Mindanao and can navigate through narrow streets and even overtake four-wheel drive vehicles along rough roads. Read More »
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 June) — A convergence of peace advocates in Mindanao is set to offer a blueprint to the negotiating panels of both the government and the Moro rebels that will serve as a common peace platform.
The Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), a network of non-government organizations, academe, religious, human rights groups, peoples organizations and grassroots communities, will launch on Friday the document that contains the 14-point agenda before representatives of the peace panels. Read More »
Unlike other parts of the country, when you’d say “historic,” you’d see traces right on the streets of the place. But in Butuan, nothing “historic” would greet you as you enter the city or even some landmarks that would really prove why it should be called “Historic City of Butuan.”
Coming from Davao City, only the familiar steel bridge and murky Agusan River would remind travelers that they are already in Butuan City. Read More »
The news headline at GMA News’ website this morning struck me because it’s headline — i cannot remember the exact line — says that a bomb exlploded at a Catholic church in Cotabato City. But as I went throught the entire article, the blast went off across the cathedral. The explosion killed four persons dead while 27 others were also injured. Read More »
Photos: AKP Images / Keith Bacongco | Music: Kapayapaan by Tropical Depression
DATU PIANG, Maguindanao – What would have taken only a few minutes to negotiate the 14-kilometer stretch from the Cotabato-General Santos highway to Datu Piang in Maguindanao took more than an hour as thousands ofevacuees and residents lined the road chanting “MOA-AD,” raising messages written down on manila paper, sack and plywood, demanding government to “respect, implement, sign and support” the MOA-AD (Froilan Gallardo / Mindanews) . read more